Thursday, 31 March 2011

How lucky am I? My lovely crafting pal Linda gave me such a fabulous birthday gift when she came over to 'play' last monday, a lovely set of stamps by Stamping Up! Wasn't that nice of her?

Well, you probably know me by now and realise that I just had to get them inky and create a card immediately after I unwrapped the parcel. This is the resulting card and I am going to submit it as a second entry for this week's Simply Less is More challenge as it follows their sketch.

I stamped a flower from the set across the card, just below the centre point, using Rich Cocoa Memento ink. I then stamped the 'Bliss' sentiment using Potter's Clay Memento on a scrap of matching cardstock before cutting it out using a die from the Floral Doily Motif set by Spellbinders. I attached the shaped sentiment element using Pinflair Glue to give it some dimension.

Tuesday, 29 March 2011

Another Wednesday has rolled around, I don't know about you but this week has gone by really quickly for me.

The challenge this week over on I ♥ Promarkers asks us to use embossing on our projects, the Sponsor for the challenge is Secret Crafter and the winner gets to choose 3 digi images from the SC store for their prize.

For my DT card I selected the lovely 'Ballerina Fairy' designed by Amy Brown for Queen Kat Designs. I used a Marianne's Designs cut and emboss folder on the background white layer and a leaf swirl MD die for the frond to the left.

Ballerina is coloured using my ProMarkers beford cutting her out with a scalloped oval nestie, which I then edged slightly using Forrest Green ProMarker to make it pop against the white background. The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and I stamped this with green Memento ink before cutting out and adding with Pin Flair glue to give it a little dimension.

I hoped you've enjoyed seeing today's project and that it might inspire you to enter the challenge. Just create a new project, using embossing somewhere on it and don't forget, you have to use ProMarkers to be eligible to be entered for the prize - Good Luck !

Monday, 28 March 2011

Welcome to the Queen Kat Designs Triple Tiara Tuesday (T3) challenge for this week. The challenge is to create a project and include the use of a brayer in your work. There's a prize up for grabs, so well worth submitting an entry. Just head to the QKD blog and add a direct link to your project via Mr Linky in the sidebar on the blog. Hopefully you arrived here after checking out the awesome projects both Penny and Loretta created for you, if not, do hop over to their blogs right now you really won't want to miss them.

For my DT card I selected the Myka Jelina monthly kit for february as I just love the gorgeous big roses on the main image and also the additional rose stamps. This kit is all sold out now, but the new March kit is still available in the QKD Store, these kits are such great value as each one contains a number of different stamps. You can sign up to the club in the Store, it's a great way to make sure you don't miss out on any of the monthly kits.

Using my brayer and a 'Big and Juicy' ink pad, I first created a layer using regular white cardstock and then, using the same ink pad, brayered onto glossy white card. As you can see from the photo, there is a huge difference in the effects of the same ink used on different cardstock.

I coloured the stamped images with Copics before cutting out. The lacy circle behind the main image was cut using a die from a recently released set of nesties. The strip at the bottom was cut using Nellie's Choice punch and emboss border die. The sentiment is from the kit and stamped in Rich Cocoa Memento ink.

I hope you've enjoyed checking out my project today, and that it has inspired you to enter the challenge yourself. There are so many fabulous stamps and other crafting goodies in the QKD Store, do check out the current special offers over there, you don't want to miss a bargain !

Here we go, another new week and the sun is currently shining here in Cornwall, what's the weather like where you are?

Did you have a nice weekend? I had a good but really busy one. The daughter of one of my pals is getting married next month and she had a 'wrinklies' Hen Night on saturday. It was fun but as I was driving I had to decline the vodka shots which appeared part way through the evening, I did have a small sip of the pink bubbly though !!!

Sadly, I won't be able to attend the wedding, but I wanted to create a special card for the happy couple. I know that the Bride is fond of clean and simple designs, so I didn't want to make an overly 'busy' or fussy card. This pretty Lili of the Valley image was just perfect and I coloured it with Copics - I'm sure the Groom won't actually be wearing purple on The Day, but I plead artistic licence here.

I cut out the image layer using a set of nesties and a layer from SU! Sage Shadow cardstock with a larger die from the set before embossing it with a Cuttlebug tiny hearts embossing folder. A length of organza ribbon wrapped around and tied in a double bow and some faux pearls created with a Waco Pearlmaker Pen added each side. Touches of Stardust Stickles on the flowers and clear Spica Gliter pen added over the dress to give a very subtle shimmer and this simple design was finished. I do hope they like it.

Thanks for stopping by today and allowing me to share my project, I do love reading all the kind comments you leave me. Keep on Crafting.......

Saturday, 26 March 2011

The Less is More challenge this week gives us a sketch to follow. As soon as I saw the sketch this morning, I knew exactly what I was going to create for my entry.

I am finding the CAS style of card is very liberating in one way but it is also stretching my creative skills which is fabulous ! Generally when I start to design and create a project, I select an image, papers, colours to use and layout. then commence by colouring the image to match the papers I've selected. However, with the CAS style the basic elements such as sketch, theme etc are the starting point followed by the choice on what (if any) images I am going to use on my project.

Using a 3 x 8 base card and a set of free stamps from Craft Stamper Magazine, I decided to use the sentiment to create the horizontal element of the sketch and stamped it in London Fog Memento ink across the front, offsetting the second row slightly. I then stamped the pocket watch image with Danube Blue Memento on to a scrap of white card before cutting out and attaching with Pinflair Glue to give it a little dimension.

Hope you likey ! thanks so much for taking the time to drop by today, it's great to 'see' you - let me know if you're as taken with the CAS style as I seem to be right now !!!!

Friday, 25 March 2011

I woke up this morning having dreamed the design for this card ! I had to get up early and make it before going to work or I just wouldn't have settled - does this make me a sad person? Answers on a postcard please !!

The sketchie challenge on Craftbubble's Craft Mad & Loving It group has a sketch and the theme of "I do like to be beside the seaside". I wanted to get an entry made for this week but almost ran out of time as there will be a new challenge posted up in the morning - phew !

I love the set of SU! stamps from whence this image came and am so sad that it is now retired. I have to rely on the kindness of lucky pals who actually have the set to let me stamp some for my stash or stamp some for me.

I coloured the image with Copics and added it over a layer of SU! Sage Shadow cardstock cut out with one of my new Fleur de Lis Squares Nesties set. I more or less followed the sketch for my layout and the sentiment is from a set of Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous stamps.

I think this card might well work for the Less is More challenge, but I have already submitted two other entries, so might think on it for a while before I decide whether to link it up as a third entry for this week. What do you think?

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

I had a few crafty bits and pieces to send to my lovely Dad, so I thought I'd create a clean and simple card to put them in. I was most impressed with the Royal Mail as I posted it at around 6.30pm yesterday evening and he received it this morning. He lives almost 300 miles from me, so it really flew overnight !

The base card is a plain white C6 and I used the Dragonfly from the Morphing Bugs set by Inkadinkado for the focal image. The tiny butterfly and sentiment are from the Tim Holtz Collection by Stampers Anonymous.

I used Memento ink to stamp the images, Paris Dusk for the sentiment and the rest in Danube Blue. I do so love blue and white together, so fresh and clean looking I feel.

The Clean And Simple style is really appealing to me at the moment, and I may just submit this card as a second entry for the Simply Less Is More Challenge. The theme this week is to create a masculine card, and I did create this one especially for my Dad, so I hope it fits the brief ! A lot of the men in my life love bugs and butterflies, so I would send a card like this to any of them.

Thanks for taking the time to visit and check my project out, til next time - Happy Crafting......

I decided to use this adorable DDS Lady Bug image for my card, coloured of course with ProMarkers.

The dotty background was made by embossing a piece of white cardstock with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, then sponging across with Barn Door Distress Ink. The dotty border on the right was cut with a Nellies' Choice cut and emboss die and I used the small cut out dots to add extra elements to the image layer, which was cut out with a nestie.

Sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly and the flower centres made using a Cream Waco Pearlmaker Pen. I also added a body to the butterfly with the Waco pen.

I do hope you'll 'Go Dotty' with us this week, I can't wait to see what you create. Just add a link to your project on the ILPM blog and I'll drop by and take a look.

Monday, 21 March 2011

Welcome to Tuesday ! hope you're having a great day. Today's project features the 'oh so pretty' Sadi designed by Myka Jelina, isn't she a doll? This is my DT project posted over on the Dark Ink Sorority blog.

I coloured her with Copics and added clear Spica Glitter Pen to her wings. Using the Beaded Circles and a plain circle nestie that fitted inside I cut out a frame. I stamped around the edge of the image layer with the heart stamp from the March Myka Jelina Monthly Kit using pale blue ink.

The leaves were cut with a Marianne's Designs die and the butterflies punched with a Nellie Snellen punch.

I doodled faux stitching around the edge of the background paper, which was from the DCWV Pocketful of Posies stack.

The base card is C6 Kraft cardstock with the fold on the narrow side. I stamped these Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous stamps using Brilliance pearlescent Chocolate and Memento Potters Clay inks directly on to the base card.

I had to fight my strong instincts to add further elements to the card, but the simplicity of it is growing on me the more I look at it!

Thanks for dropping by to see today's project, there will be a new one of my Dark Ink Sorority projects using Queen Kat stamps posting up here later tonight, I do hope you'll drop by again soon to check it out.

I think most of us struggle making cards for men, they can often be a little dull as we use darker colours and we don't generally add flowers or other pretty embellies. Most of the men I make cards for among my family and friends enjoy receiving humorous or lighthearted cards which prompted my design for this card.

The image I used is from Magnolia and I'm ashamed to say that it's been in my stash for quite some time and never seen ink ! Once I'd got the design concept for my card in mind, I found a scrap of paper from the DCWV Pocket Full of Posies stack which looks a bit like waves. The image is coloured with Promarkers and I created the sentiment on my computer and cut out with a star shaped nestie. The shiny ric-rac ribbon was kicking around in my bag of ribbons and proved to be the perfect colour to match my card. The layer under the image was cut with a large scallop circle from SU! 'Not Quite Navy' cardstock.

That's it from me today folks - if you plan to enter a card for the challenge, Good Luck !

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

If you're a hopper you should have arrived here via the link from the Dark Ink Sorority Blog, if not and you'd like to see all the fabulous creations from the DT then swing right back to the QKD Blog where you'll find the whole hop list.

I'm just so excited that we have some fabulous new stamps released today by one of our new designers - Myka Jelina. My card today features the awesome 'Killing Time' stamp and I was drawn to these rich purple and green shades for papers and colouring.

This is a twisted easel card - much easier to make than it might appear! KT is colouring with Copics and I've added some leafy fronds and a decorative corner cut with Marianne's Designs dies from SU! cardstock in Concorde Crush and Almost Amethyst. I used three flower gems as the 'stop' for the easel and the background papers are by Papermania.

I've recently purchased PaintShop Pro and I'm still finding out what fabulous things you can do with this software. After a little experimentation, I discovered that I really like how this image looks in Sepia tones, what do you think? Do you prefer the original colours or the atmospheric effects of the the alternative version - let me know what you think by leaving me a comment.

Now I'm sending you off to see what awesomeness Valerie has created for you. If you'd like to get KT for yourself, just hop to the QKD Store and pop her into your cart and Queen Kat will get it shipped out to you. You might also like to check out the latest special offers whilst you're there !

Sunday, 13 March 2011

Well, I do seem to be on a bit of a roll with my 'Less is More' style of card at the moment ! I found it quite scary when I started with some one layer clean and simple creations, but I'm really beginning to warm to this style.

This will be a second entry from me for the 'Off the Edge' challenge over at Simply Less is More this week as I stamped the main image just over the edge of the card using a Fawn ink pad by Impress.

I used a couple of stamps from a set by Dark Room Door and this card will go into my stock as this lovely sentiment would be appropriate for many different occasions. I may even go ahead and make a few more in similar style using the DRD sets to add to my stock of versatile cards.

Whilst designing my first entry for this challenge, I tried a few layouts and the following was one I rejected, but having lived with it for a while, I now like it better than I did - what do you think, does it work ? It's always good to have a few 'Thank You' cards in stock, so this one will be used at some point in the future.

That's it from me for today, hope you're having a lovely sunny Sunday as we are in Cornwall today, it really feels like Spring has well and truly sprung !!!

Saturday, 12 March 2011

Thank you for missing me and thank you for taking the time to tell me so ! I missed all of you too - 11 days with no internet access, how did I ever survive ? !!!

As you can see, I did manage to find a little crafting time this afternoon - should have been getting on with the laundry, but hey ! I think I've got my priorities right.... heee....heee.. !

One of the beautiful birthday cards that was awaiting me when I arrived home contained this truly delightful stamp (thank you so much Junie, I adore it). I couldn't wait to get her inky and this is the result. The Simply Less is More Challenge this week is to create a one layer card with the theme of 'off the edge' so my 'Thank You' card fits perfectly into this challenge. I hope the recipient likes it too !

The stamp is 'Lantern Rin' by Sparkle Creations (Rubber Stamps) and this is the first of their stamps I've used. It is lovely thick red rubber and I got a nice sharp and clear image from it stamping with Memento Ink, placing it just over the edge of the card as I stamped it so she looks like she's just leaning into the card slightly to say "Thank You". I stamped the sentiments from a set by Hero Arts using the red part of a Big and Juicy ink pad. To tie the whole thing together, I coloured just the lantern in red using Copics, leaving the rest of the image as a lineart drawing for more impact.

Thanks so much for dropping by today to see my first creation since returning from my holiday.

I'm just home after a short vacation, I hope you've all enjoyed the projects I pre-scheduled to post whilst I was away. I'd like to say a huge welcome to all my new Followers and thanks to all Followers for supporting me, visiting regularly and leaving me such lovely kind comments. I do read all the comments and it's so great to get feedback. The first thing I did after getting home last night was to log on and read all the comments left whilst I was away.

I'd also like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who sent me a Birthday Card, I received some awesome creations and will put up a picture of them all a little later, once I unpack my camera! I had a great birthday with a lovely lunch in a restaurant overlooking Lake Vinuela in Spain. The sun was shining and snow on the higher peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which made a lovely backdrop to the view of the lake.

I'm feeling rather craft-starved and will be heading to the 'Table of Craftiness' as soon as possible, so there may well be a second post later today with a new project to share !

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

This week the I ♥ Promarkers Challenge asks us to create a Baby card. Our prize sponsor is Di's Digis and the sweet image I used for today's card is available in their store here.

I coloured this little cutie in shades of pink as a card for a baby girl, but I think by using shades of blue it would work equally as well for a boy with that adorable tuft of hair !

The base card was embossed using the 'In Stitches' embossing folder by Craft Concepts and the image cut out using a plain rectangle nestie. I cut a slightly larger layer from SU! Pretty in Pink cardstock with a die from the same set and a layer of pale patterned paper cut with a large scallop rectantle die and layered them all up. The ribbon was from my stash and I created the flowers with a Nellie Snellen Punch and Emboss set, adding pink pearls in the centres with a Waco Pearlmaker pen. I also added three more pink pearls with the pen in the top right corner of the image layer.

I deliberately didn't add a 'New Baby' sentiment as I think the card could work just as well for a Christening or baby's 1st Birthday, not just a new arrival congratulations and I can personalise it inside for the relevant occasion later.

Thanks for dropping by today, I do hope you'll enter the challenge this week - let us see your lovely baby cards, just leave a link on the I ♥ Promarkers blog, Good Luck !

Monday, 7 March 2011

Today I'm sharing with you a card created using the second of my new release stamps for March from Queen Kat Designs. This lovely girl is called Sadi and she was designed by the fabulous Myka Jelina.My project is also posted on the Dark Ink Sorority blog in my regular Tuesday slot.
I coloured Sadi with Copics in pastel shades of mauve and blue, adding touches of Spica Glitter Pen here and there.

Rather than add layers to my card, I decided to cut out an aperture with a scalloped oval nestie thus revealing the stamped image behind. I outlined the scallops with a Lavender Promarker and added Stickles around the edge. The sentiment is from the March Monthly Kit by Myka. I cut the bunting using a die by Whiff of Joy, from a scrap of paper from the DCWV Pocketful of Posies stack. The flower gems were from my stash and also the Card Candy.

The lovely Sadi is available right now in the Queen Kat Store, while you're over there snagging her for your stash, check out the special offers we have for you this week.

Thanks so much for dropping by, I really appreciate your support - it would be awesome if you could leave me a comment, let me know how you like Sadi.

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Happy Wednesday dear reader ! Are you all set and raring to go with this week's I ♥ Promarkers challenge? This week we have a colour theme and ask you to use Purple and Green on your projects. Our prize Sponsor this week is Joanna Sheen.

For my DT card, I really went for the purple theme!! I recently bought this lovely cut and emboss die by Marianne's Designs and used it on some SU! Concorde Crush cardstock for the background. Behind this I added Certainly Celery cardstock which shows through the cutout sections. I also used the CC to cut the lacy layer ehind the image and the fronds behind the flowers.

The image is "Kitty Kat Fairy" from Queen Kat Designs and she is coloured, of course, with Promarkers with a little Spica Glitter Pen added on her wings. The butterflies were cut with a Nellie Snellen punch and emboss set with a little Stickles added for the bodies. As I didn't have flowers of the right colour, I used a Promarker to colour some white ones to match.

I'm really looking forward to seeing your Purple and Green creations, add a direct link to your project over on the I ♥ Promarkers blog and I'll hop over and leave you some lurrveee !

Thanks for stopping by today, it's been fun seeing you ! Do come back and if you have time, leave me a comment and let me know what you think of Miss Kitty Kat.

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All projects published on my blog are copyright to me - I am happy to share my designs here in the hope that they may inspire you to develop your own ideas. However please respect my right not to have my designs copied or "lifted" or entered for publication, competitions, etc. Direct copying of any design shown on this blog is an infringement of copyright.